Canada

Since the 1960s, and particularly since 1980, Canada has been embroiled in a series of disputes arising out of efforts to "patriate" and modernize Canada's constitution. Quebec nationalists, provincial premiers, and, more recently, feminists and aboriginal leaders have sought and sometimes won major victories as Canadians have attempted to transform their constitution and move from a commonwealth based in British law to an independent republic.

India

An ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan after independence from Great Britain came over Kashmir in 1947-49. With independence and partition, the numerous states had to choose to join either Hindu India or Muslim Pakistan. Contiguous to both India and West Pakistan, Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu prince, but the majority of its population was Muslim. In 1947, Pakistan invaded Kashmir in support of an uprising by Muslim peasants. The maharajah fled to Delhi, where he signed papers giving Kashmir to India...